Name "change" and MP?
 

Situation: I signed up for an MP college when I was in college. The State of California allows the use of common law names, so I used my nickname rather than legal name. No official court documents involved.

Post 9/11, and the feds don't like nicknames, so I've had to use my legal name on reservations now, which is a problem because now my name doesn't match. (I got denied credit for a return transatlantic flight on LH) I changed it on da.bomb, but apparently that's obviously not good enough, when I tried entering my MP number after I was invol'ed over to UA last week (number wouldn't go through, GA "overrode the system" but still no credit).

Now, I'd like to take advantage of some of the current UA promos. My question:

Do you know what ducks do I have to get in a row before I have to call India and wait my non-status butt on hold forever? I'm betting it's not a simple "my name is wrong, please change it" request.

(I thought about starting a new MP number, and figure out if I can merge them later, but again with the different names).

Thanks.

When my wife and I got married and she needed to change her name, they required a mailed copy of the marriage license. In your case, they will probably require you to mail a copy of your passport or some other official document that shows your legal name.

Need to fax or mail
 

I had essentially the same situation (except my butt has status and I didn't get denied any credits). You can NOT change it online or on the phone, they require a written hardcopy. I wrote them a letter basically explaining that I registered my MP account under my familiar name, which I traveled under at the time, but have been advised to start traveling under my legal name, and would they please change my account to match. I added a photocopy of my MP card and 2 forms of ID, put the whole thing in an envelope, sent it off to South Dakota, and it was changed within a couple of weeks.

This sounds like the way to go. I will search for the SD address, but if anyone feels inclined to expedite the dissemination of this info... :D

(I take it it should be under "Contact UA" or some sort there abouts?)

EDIT: For future reference...
Mileage Plus Service Center
P.O. Box 6124
Rapid City, SD 57709-6124

Thanks for the ideas.

Careful...:confused: :confused: :confused:

Also on the united.com web site:
Is the different PO box material? Don't know. But since this specifically addresses a name change, I'm inclined to go with 6120.

While you're on a roll :) do you have a current fax number for them?

Odd, because that address I had also was for name changes:And then when searching for cblaisd's fax number (sorry, no dice), I found this under CS contact info:Ugh.

I think both of the addresses lead to Mileage Plus.

On the phone they told me 20, but website shows 24, or the other way around, I can't remember exactly.

You will find this two addresses all over places in United. I think one is MP, and one is MP International.

Don't worry both of them should work :)

Another problem some of us have is Dr. vs. Mr/Ms/Mrs.

I don't usually use Dr. (although I am one) in my personal business, such as with airlines, but at some point somebody at UA picked up on me being "Dr." and added it to some part of my profile. (Any number of ways it could have happened. I might have emailed them from my work address with a signature; Somebody doing a booking for me might have said something. Some missing mileage letter might have been on letterhead. Who knows.)

But, the problem is now that in some places in UA's computers I'm "Mr. BP" and in others I'm "Dr. BP" and when the two meet...well usually something goes wrong and I get issued a paper ticket, or the ticket isn't issued until I call in, or some other problem. I made a concerted effort at one point to try to track down the problem and get it fixed and didn't get anywhere. Maybe I should try again.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot -- I got Mr. changed to Dr. at the same time (no documentation needed). A quick letter or fax saying you normally travel as "Mr." should work I'd think.

Regarding the correct PO Box to use, I included missing mileage requests in the same envelope, so just sent it to the most general PO Box, and that worked.

Would you happen to have that fax no?

Sorry, I don't do fax -- I actually snail-mailed it. I can't find the fax number on the web page either. But surely someone else can post it, I've seen other people talk about faxing...

Got it:

FAX: (605) 341-6140

TEL: (605) 341-6254

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...86&postcount=9

Thanks IceTrojan and JD2000,
-BP

My wife mailed in her request shortly after we were married, and UA took care if the change in very short order.